| "Standing on the Top" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Temptations | ||||
| from the album Reunion | ||||
| Released | 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1982 | |||
| Genre | Soul, funk | |||
| Length | 4:15 | |||
| Label | Gordy (
Motown) 1616 GF Motown ( UK) TMGT 1623 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Rick James | |||
| Producer(s) | Rick James | |||
| The Temptations singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Standing on the Top" is a funk song recorded by the Motown group The Temptations, written and produced by (and featuring) musician Rick James.
Background
The Temptations, after a brief spell at Atlantic Records in the late 1970s, re-signed with Motown, in 1980. In 1982, reunited with three of their former lead singers, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards, the group, now a seven-piece act, began a reunion tour. They also recorded a new album together, the aptly titled Reunion, a collaboration Motown founder Berry Gordy, Motown VP Smokey Robinson and punk- funk star Rick James. The Temptations provided backing vocals on James' 1981 hit " Super Freak".
Details
"Standing on the Top" was released as the lead single from the group's Reunion album in April, 1982. The album version was almost ten minutes long (9:48) and the single release split the track into two halves; "Part 1" was released as the A-side (4:15) and "Part 2" as the B-side (5:33).
Personnel
- Lead vocals by David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards, Richard Street, Glenn Leonard and Rick James
- Background vocals by Otis Williams, Mary Jane Girls, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards, Richard Street and Glenn Leonard
- Clavinet by Rick James
- Bass by Oscar Alton
- Drums by Lanise Hughes
- Guitar by Tom McDermott
- Keyboards by Erskine Williams
- Synthesizer by Levi Ruffin
- "Punk Funk" Horns:
- Saxophone by Chris Powell
- Trumpets by Ken Scott and LaMorris Payne
- Percussion by Nathan Hughes
Chart history
It proved to be one of The Temptations' biggest hits in several years, making it into the R&B Top Ten (#6), but performing only moderately on both the US and UK Singles Chart, peaking at #66 and #53, respectively. In Canada it peaked on the RPM Top 50 at #32 on July 10, 1982.
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.K. Singles Chart [2] | 53 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [3] | 66 |
| U.S. Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80 [4] | 11 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles [5] | 3 |
References
- ^ "The Temptations – Reunion (1982, Vinyl)".
- ^ "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 833.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 256.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 572.
